You could be killing with kindness if you give money to some homelessness charities.

Many well-meaning people donate spare change to homelessness charities without realising they might be supporting policies which harm, and could even kill homeless people.

Several homeless charities use workfare staff who face benefit sanctions if they refuse to work for free. These sanctions have been linked to suicides, homelessness, ill health and desperate poverty. Both the Salvation Army and the YMCA are heavily involved with workfare.

Despite many tragic deaths on the streets many homelessness charities oppose help being given directly such as soups runs. One organisation (Thamesreach) even supported a Tory council’s failed attempt to make it illegal to give food to homeless people